Surface condenser



Ju y 6 1926. 1,591,691

, v. E. ALDEN SURFACE CONDENSER Filed Nov. 27, 1925 3 Sheets-Shut 1 July 6, 19.26. l v. E. ALDEN sunmc: connzussn Filed Nov. 27, 1925 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 31 -INVENTOR 8. aadw V. E. ALDEN SURFACE CONDBNSSR Filed Nov. 27

, 1925 .3 Sheets-Sheiet 5 O I I co 0 o oo comm o oooRodoo mooo 4 INVENTOR lfyvw g (I f/lATTORNEY- Patented July 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT ori ice.

VERN E. ALDEN, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR 'IO ENGINEERING DEVELOP- MENT CO., OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OFNEW JERSEY.

SURFACE CONDENSER.

Application filedNovember 27, 1925. Serial No. 71,606.

In order to function as intended it is use essary that a condenser be designed to produce a high vacuum. It is also desirable that there should be a high coeiiicient of heat transfer showing that the tube surface and cooling water are used eiiiciently. In order to obtain a high vacuum in surface condenser practice, the air and other non-condensable vapors are preferably cooled before being removed from the condenser. The more these non-condensable gases are cooled the lower is the pressure of the water vapor mixed with them, and the larger the amount of non-condensable vapors that may be removed by an air pump of given capacity. In order to adequately reduce the temperature of the non-condensable vapors, it is necessary that the air cooling surface within the condenser be at as low atemperature as possible with a given supply of circulating water, consequently, the air coolingsection ofthe condenser must be sufficiently large to be eflicient, and the pressure drop between the exhaust steam 1nlot and the air pump must be a minimum,

in order to obtain and maintain a high vacuum. The efliciency of the air cooling chamber may be determined by the number of tubes contained therein, and the pressure drop may be controlled by leaving open steam passages between the tubes in the condenser; obviously, in order to decrease the pressure drop as much steam as possible should be condensed by the outer rows of the condenser tubes. This may be accomph' shed by passing through these outer tubes circulating water which is sufliciently cooled to absorb a large amount of the heat through these, outer tubes. In ordinary two pass surface condensers however, the lower bank of tubes generally constitute the first pass, and the upper bank of tubes the second pass, and the circulating water as it enters the second pass after having traversed and been heated in the first pass is necessarily warmerthan when it enters the condenser.

Now the object of my invention is the provision in a surfacecondenser having an air cooler chamber or space, and a relative 1y large eccentric steam belt on one side thereof, of means whereby a part of the circulating water which in flowing through the first pass passes through the tubes in the air cooler chamber or space, and is caused to flow through the outer or upper tubes in that the circulating water which passes through the tubes in the air cooler section of the condenser is directed to the upper or outer tubes inthe upper bank, which comprise the second pass for the circulating water. Consequently, as relatively little steam is condensed in the air cooler chamber the circulating water which passes through the tubes in this air cooler chamber is considerably colder than the remainder of the circulating water after the same has passed through the lower bank of tubes. It naturally follows, that as the water flowing through the upper tubes in the upper bank, which comprise the second pass, is relatively cool, a greater portion of the exhaust steam as the same entersthe condenser is condensed on the upper or top tubes, and the pressure drop through the condenser is therefore correspondingly reduced. The construction of the water-box partitions is such that the remainder of the circulating water passing through the lower bank of tubes, or the first pass, is, in the upper bank of tubes, or in the second pass, sent through the inner section of these tubes. It naturally follows, that the circulating water which has done the least work in passing through the lower bank of tubes will perform the most work in passing through the upper bank of tubes. The eiiicient distribution of the cooling water, due to the substantially equal heating of all portions thereof, makes it possible to efiect a considerable saving in power when cool circulating water is obtainable by decreasing the speedof the circulating pump, consequently, in the use of the condenser made in accordance with this invention a rela tively high vacuum may be obtained and maintained with a material saving in the 3 scale.

Fig. 4-is a section on line 4-4, Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5, Fig. 1.

The invention relates especially to a surface condenser, and illustrated in the drawinggthe shell or body forming a part thereofis composed of a plurality of sections. The top sections of the condenser shell are designatedat 10, 1'1 and 12, and the bottom or lower sections of the condenser shell are designated at 13, 14 and 15. These sections of the condenser shell are peripherally flanged and adaptedto be secured toone anotherin the customary manner by the employment of bolts passing through the flanges or otherwise. The condenser shell preferably in the upper portion thereof is provided with an exhaust steam inlet 16,'and mayalso be provided in a suitable'position with a relief valve connection "17, and air outlet sections 18 and 19. In a suitable position, the condenser shell may also be provided with a make-up water inlet connection19. In thebottomof the condenser shell the sections are arranged to provide for an outlet for the condensate as indicated at 20. The condenser shell as illustratedis associated with a hot well 20' and the condensate outlet from the condenser shell preferably conforms to and rests upon the'inletto the hot well. Furthermore, in the type of condenser as illustrated, one side of'the shellis preferably made eccentric to provide interiorly for an eccentric steam inlet belt. This eccentric side of the condenser is indicated at 21.

The extreme sections of the condenser are provided at one end thereof, with flanges 22 and Atthis end of the condenser,

which is preferably the inlet end for the circulating water there is a tube plate 24.

Similarly at the opposite end of the condenser ihe extreme sections .are provided with end flanges 25 and 26 associated with which isa tube .plate 27. The inlet and dischar; e water-box for the circulating water ispreferably made in sections a sin- (heated at 28 and 29, and interiorly this water-boxis provided with a transverse parplate or bonnet 33, which may be suitably reinforced'and provided with the necessary hand-holes. This water-box consequently, is divided interiorly into an inlet chamber 34 in the lower portion thereof.,and an outlet or discharge chamber 35 in the upper portion thereof. Also as is customary, there is a plurality of suitably arranged tubes 36 extending between and at their respective ends suitably secured in the tube plates 24 and 27.

The return water-box or the .water box at the opposite end of the condenser is also preferably made in sections indicated at 37 and and provided with a cover or bonnet 39. Interiorly this return .waterbox is provided with a partition wall extending from the lower portion of the water-box to a point approximately midway of its height at one side thereof. The lower portion of this partition wall is indicated at 40, and extends from the lower portion of .the water box upwardly a predetermined distance, and then continues also upwardly and at an inclination as indicated at 41 for another predetermined distance. The next succeedingportion of this partition wall is preferably circular and concentric with the shell of the waterebox, and continues from the end of the inclined section 41 to substantially a point in the central horizontal portion of the water-box as indicated at 42,

@and thence in a substantially horizontal direction to the side of the water-box as indicated at 43. This partition wall therefore divides the interior of this return waterbox into the conmartments indicated at 44 and 45. Interiorly the shell of the condenser is provided with-a'baflie plate 46 extending down 'ardly fl'Oln the side thereof opposite to that in whichthe eccentric steam belt is provided as is clearly indicated in Fig. 4. providing below the baflieplate an air cooler chamber within the shell. It will be noted that the inclination at which this ballie plate is placed is substantiallvthe same as the inclination of the inclined section '41 of. the partition wall in the return water-box, and is also insubstantially the same plane astheinclined section 41.

In the use of this condenser the exhaust steam from a turbine oriotherprime mover is admitted at the steam inlet 16. The circulating Water from any suitable source is admitted through the waterinlet connection 31 to-the chamber 34in theinlet and discharge water-box. From this chamber the circulating water passes in thecustomary manner through the lower bank of tubes comprising the 'iirstpass thereof. After passing throughthesetubes in the lower bank the. circulating water is admitted to the chambers 44 and 45 in the return waterbox. Now as will be understood the circulating water passing through the tubes in the aircooler section 47 will not be raised in temperature materially, and that this circulating water passing into the chamber 44 in the return water-box will be caused to How through the outer or upper tubes in the upper bank, which constitutes the second pass for the circulating water, whereas, the circulating water passing through the other tubes in the lower bank will be directed to the chamber 4-5 in the return water-box, and consequently will flow through the inner tubes in the upper bank during the return pass of the circulating water. It will be understood moreover, that the tube'layout may be such as will increase the eflieiency of the apparatus, and that as hereinbefore stated a practical saving is effected in the use of this condenser by directing the circulating water which flows through the tubes in the air cooler chamber in the condenser during the first pass to flow through the outer or upper tubes during the second pass, in order that the relatively cool circulating water may be caused to flow through the tubes with which the exhaust steam first comes into contact.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a multipass surface condenser, a shell, a plurality of tubes lying within the shell, circulating water-boxes at the ends of the shell. and means within the said waterboxes for dividing both of the same into compartments whereby the circulating water which flows through a portion of the tubes in the first pass is caused to flow only through a number of the outer tubes in the next succeeding pass.

2. In a multipass surface condenser, a shell, a plurality of tubes within the shell, water-boxes at the ends of the shell, and partition walls in both of the water-boxes so arranged that the circulating water which flows through a portion of the lower tubes in one pass is caused to flow only through a number of the upper tubes in the next succeeding pass.

8. In a two pass surface condenser, a shell, a plurality of tubes within the said shell, water-boxes at the ends of the shell, and partition walls in both of the said waterboxes so arranged that the circulating water which flows through a portion of the tubes in the first pass is caused to flow only through a number of the upper tubes in the second pass.

4. In a two pass surface condenser, a shell, a plurality of tubes Within the said shell, water-boxes at the ends ofv the shell, and partition walls in both of the said waterboxes, whereby the circulating water which flows through the lower tubes on one side of the condenser in the first pass is caused to flow only through a section of the upper tubes in the condenser in the second pass.

5. In a two pass surface condenser, a shell,

a plurality of tubes within the shell, an inlet'and discharge water-box at one end of the shellhaving a substantially horizontal partition wall therein,- a return water-box at the other end of the shell, and a partition wall in the return water-box so located therein that the circulating water which flows through a portion of the tubes in the first pass is caused to flow through the outer or upper. tubes in the second pass.

6. In a multipass surface condenser, a shell, a plurality of tubes therein, a baffle plate lying Within the'shell and providing an air cooler chamber therein, water-boxes at the ends of the shell, and devices for dividing both said water-boxes into compartments whereby the circulating water which flows through the tubes in the air cooler chamber in one pass is caused to flow only through a section of the outer tubes in the next succeeding pass.

7. In a two pass surface condenser, a shell, a plurality of tubes therein, a bafile plate lying within the said shell and providing an air cooler chamber therein, water-boxes at the ends of the shell, and partition walls in both said water-boxes so arranged that the circulating water which flows through the tubes in the first pass lying within the said air cooler chamber is caused to flow only through a section of outer tubes in the second pass.

8. In a two pass surface condenser, a shell, a plurality of tubes therein, a bafiie plate within the said shell and providing an air coolerchamber therein, an inlet and outlet circulating water-box at one end of the shell having a substantially horizontal partition wall therein, a return water-box at the other end of the shell, and a partition wall in the return water-box whereby the circulating water which passes through the tubes lying within the air-cooler chamber in the first pass is caused to fiow through a section of outer tubes in the second pass.

9. In a two pass surface condenser, a shell, a plurality of tubes therein, a baffle plate within the said shell and providing an air cooler chamber therein, an inlet and outlet circulating water-box at one end of the shell having a substantially horizontal partition wall therein, a return water-box at the other end of the shell, a partition wall in the return water-box having a vertical portion, a portion inclined correspondingly with the baflle plate in the shell of the condenser, and a substantially circular portion whereby the circulating water which flows through the tubes lying within the air cooler chamber in the shell of the condenser in the first pass is caused to flow through a section of the outer tubes in the second pass.

10. In a multipass surface condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet and a condensate outlet, tube plates at the ends of the shell, a plurality of tubes extending between the tube plates and lying within the shell, water-boxes connected to the tube plates, and means for dividing both waterboxes into con'ipartn'ients whereby the circulating water which flows through a portion of the tubes in the first passvis caused to flow only through that portion of the tubes in the next succeeding pass, which lie nearest the exhaust steam inlet.

11. In .a two pass surface condenser, a shell having an exhaust steain inlet and a condensate outlet, tube plates at the ends oft-he she'll, a plurality of tubes lying Within the shell, and connected to and extending between the saidtube plates, a batlle plate lying within the condenser shell and providing an air cooler Clltlll'lbl therein, water-boxes at the ends of the condenser,and devices for, dividing -both water-boxes into compartments whereby the circulating Water which flows through the tubes lying within the air cooler chamber inthe first pass is caused to flow onlythrougli a section or tubes lying nearest the exhaust steam inletin the second pass.

12. In atwo pass surface condenser, a shell having an exhaust steam inlet and a condensate outlet, tube plates at the ends of the shell, a plurality of tubes lying within the shell, and connected to and extending between the said tube plates, a battle plate lying within the condenser shell and providing an air cooler chamber therein, awater-box at one end of the condenser having an inlet and outlet connection, and a substantially horizontal partition wall dividing the waterbox into upper and lower compartments, a return water-box vat the other end of the condenser shell, and apartition wall in the return water-box so located therein that the circulating; water which flows through the tubes lying within the air cooler chamber in the first pass is caused in the second pass to flow through a section'of tubes lying adjacent the exhaust steam. inlet.

Signed by me this 31st day of Oetobn',

vVERBLE. ALDEN. 

